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Saturday, January 16, 2010

Global Warming 101

http://www.appinsys.com/GlobalWarming/CascadesSnowpack.htm

Check this out for charts and stats on the Cascade Snowpack.

I meandered into a 2005 documentary movie on Encore this morning when they were talking about the Cascade Mountain Snowpack, explaining how a low snowpack doesn't allow for the right water flow from the mountains, thus poor irrigation to the east side, thus crop reduction, etc, etc, etc. I'll try to find the name of the movie so that others can cop a view.

They filmed a crew doing snowpack measurements on the eastern slope of the Cascades and went into areas where, traditionally, at the same time of year and location, the pack would have been several feet (they were transported in a grooming vehicle). They were literally driving over brush and there were scant inches here and there, where the sun hadn't melted the snow.

I was left to remember the numerous trips that I've made over Snoqualmie Pass and the level of the lake at the top of the pass, controlled by the dam. There was once an island in the middle that summer campers could boat to and camp out. I haven't seen a time in at least 10 years when you couldn't drive out there now. Even in the heavy snow years (2009), they still can't fill the lake, that once filled every year. Similarily, Alder Lake, in Pierce County hasn't filled in years. I've made literally hundreds of drives past there in the 1960s with my parents, heading for Packwood. I think the same could be said for Riffe Lake in Lewis County.

It seems that the Conservative side of our state, where fruit orchards are King, understands the problem. Why can't they educate their breathern in the cities?

ADDITION TO POST:

RedForeman wrote on 01/16/2010 04:22:13 PM:
Yes, things are going swimmingly in Venezuela, so well in fact that they are imposing rolling blackouts. The resevoir that supplys 90% of their electricity is low, supposedly from global warming. Guess they better get some diesel generators and start using their oil. Oh wait, that causes global warming. What to do? What to do?


A picture perfect example of the problem. I wonder how the Yakima Valley Orchardists would enjoy Red's comedy act? I'll pay for the bus ticket and arrange the booking for their next meeting.

4 comments:

Anonymous98507 said...

More info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Washington#Snow_and_ice Check the references.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5314592.stm

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2005/03/worldwide-glacier-retreat/

Anonymous98507 said...

I'll pay for a ticket for IV! Somebody up for paying for glenn's ticket? The three of them would put on a "really big shew"! (Hmmmm, dating myself there? LOL)

xyzzy said...

I'll chip in too, but only if the tickets are one way, no possible return......

Anonymous98507 said...

xyzzy, oh of course! no way would we want them back....